Today we’d like to introduce you to Emma Longcope.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I grew up spending a lot of time outside, and also a lot of time doodling and diving into various craft projects. I’ve worked jobs ranging from “ridge runner” in a national park to rock climbing instructor to content manager for a Front-Range-based non-profit. Art has always been a way for me to disconnect from my “job-job” and reconnect with myself and my creativity, and also a way to record what I’m doing and seeing as I travel and spend time in wild places.
A year or two ago, my mom found a box of embroidery thread my sister and I had abandoned after our friendship-bracelet-making phase, which sparked me to find a new use for the materials: embroidering landscapes I love on upcycled clothing. As I learn more about the negative impacts of fast fashion and unchecked consumerism on the environment, I feel more compelled than ever to turn old items into new-again, tangible goods that are in line with the values of the human who adopts them. Any day that I get to climb or play outside, check all the boxes at my marketing job, and also make art that helps the planet is a dang good day.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I’m lucky in infinite ways, but absolutely struggle balancing all the things I’m excited about—I have a tough time saying no and staying on one course, which often leads me to do a lot of things at once and feels burnt out from taking on too many projects—apparently this is a classic enneagram-seven thing? I think it comes from having a mindset of scarcity instead of one of abundance, and I’m learning to write down my vision of success and say no to opportunities that aren’t in alignment with my values. On a personal level, the current pandemic has really shaken up some of the things I’d considered constant in my life—I was furloughed from my 9-5 job when it began, which was a blow to the ego but offered many silver linings… like more time for art!
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I make things out of sustainable materials and recycle/up-cycle existing things to support fellow humans and our home planet. Sometimes this looks like a raffle for an embroidered denim jacket to benefit a non-profit that supports a marginalized community, sometimes it looks like donating proceeds from a commissioned embroidered flag to an organization that protects the landscape I’m depicting. I’m lucky that, for the most part, I’ve kept my art business separate from my marketing day-job, so I can really use my craft to give back. In a world increasingly focused on speed of production and consumption, slowing down to stitch an intricate landscape fulfills me and also gives buyers of my work a timeless piece that they feel good about. I’m forever inspired by wild places, from the rugged skyline of Rocky Mountain National Park to the waves of my childhood home in Maine, and I feel passionate about forming a business that honors these wonderlands.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My mom is a casual but super talented seamstress, and her teachings—from using a sewing machine to observing the natural world—have really shaped how I work and view the world today.
I owe big thanks to everyone who has invested in a piece of my work, and to everyone who has offered words of encouragement—from my high school buddies to kind strangers on the internet.
Creating sustainable art has been one way I work to protect our planet, and I have so much respect for so many individuals in the world of environmentalism and sustainability, so thank you to everyone who’s working in whatever ways they can to come up with the creative solutions these times demand.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.emmalongcope.com
- Email: emma.longcope@gmail.com
- Instagram: @emma.longcope
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